Eclipse (A Song Called Youth - Book One)

Rating:
Summary: An overlooked cyberpunk classic
Review: John Shirley, the man who introduced William Gibson to Bruce Sterling, never really achieved the fame that his two friends did. Certainly, he isn't lacking for talent. One can't really talk about cyberpunk science fiction without mentioning this book. If you're partial to cyberpunk writing, then you have no choice but to read this book. Me, I'm praying to the publishing gods that the other two books in the series are reprinted, as I still haven't been able to find them...

Rating:
Summary: A crime this trilogy is not available
Review: The Eclipse trilogy by John Shirley is perhaps one of the finest examples of cyberpunk "war" novels available - a classic us vs them series. Guaranteed to keep you up till all hours of the night, this series has been placed on "Permanent Out Of Stock" status by it's publisher, which usually means they are in a tussle with the author and will not print the book, but will not release the rights back to the author so it can be printed elsewhere. Your best bet is to seek out a good used bookstore or sf con - a set is usually available. This is a must read for hardcore sci-fi genre addicts, along the lines of Necrom and Armageddon Rag (if you don't know them, find them). And it never hurts to complain to the publisher, Popular Library Questar division about their stance re this series. Find it. Buy it. Read it.

Rating:
Summary: A crime this trilogy is not available
Review: The Eclipse trilogy by John Shirley is perhaps one of the finest examples of cyberpunk "war" novels available - a classic us vs them series. Guaranteed to keep you up till all hours of the night, this series has been placed on "Permanent Out Of Stock" status by it's publisher, which usually means they are in a tussle with the author and will not print the book, but will not release the rights back to the author so it can be printed elsewhere. Your best bet is to seek out a good used bookstore or sf con - a set is usually available. This is a must read for hardcore sci-fi genre addicts, along the lines of Necrom and Armageddon Rag (if you don't know them, find them). And it never hurts to complain to the publisher, Popular Library Questar division about their stance re this series. Find it. Buy it. Read it.

Rating:
Summary: I'm still shaking...
Review: The song called Youth is played by Rick Rickenharp. This book is powerful. My message is simply to any sci-fan fan who was fortunate to stumble upon this book. READ IT. Just start and let Shirley do the rest.

Rating:
Summary: I'm still shaking...
Review: The song called Youth is played by Rick Rickenharp. This book is powerful. My message is simply to any sci-fan fan who was fortunate to stumble upon this book. READ IT. Just start and let Shirley do the rest.

Rating:
Summary: Shocking, intense, visionary: a work of genius
Review: World War III started but no one used the big nukes. While the USA and the New Soviets agreed to fight on European battlegrounds (and on a space station halfway between Earth and Moon), fascist fundamentalist Christian forces - under the name Second Alliance - are gaining in influence worldwide. Only the New Resistance sees the destructive power of the Fascists and starts a bitter and seemingly hopeless fight.
As this is only the first part of the recently reissued trilogy, I don't know yet the outcome of the War, but one thing is for sure: John Shirley wrote one of the most intense future histories I have ever come across. The plot is based in the year 2029, and as this is a revised edition (the original version was released about 15 years ago), a lot of the historical background is real and does not only paint an imaginative dark future, but also shows the frightening doings of some actual American congressmen (Trent Lott and the racist Council of Conservative Citizens).
Shirley apparently has a strong dislike for WASPs (understandably), and together with the malleability of people's minds, he paints us a visionary picture of the future that could happen only just too easily.
Very graphic violence (nothing for the faint hearted), strong language and a shockingly surreal glimpse into the future will make sure that this book will have an everlasting imprint to your neurons.
Only one small point of criticism: for a "revised and updated" version, there were awfully many typos and especially misplaced periods and commas, but that doesn't take away one ounce of the intensity of this groundbreaking novel.